<<Print>>

FOR THE first time in the history of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), third generation Ghanaian Yorubas have formed a caucus to support the party. Numbering over 150 and made up of businessmen they meet weekly near the Children�s Hospital in the Ododiodio constituency. Last week they picked their executive officers to steer the group�s affairs. The Secretary, Alhaji Abdul Yakeen Abdul Raheem told Daily Guide that �we came together to dispel the perception that all Yorubas and Hausas born in Ghana belong to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Both NPP and NDC have supporters among the two ethnic groups. We are third generation Yorubas our grandfathers having migrated to the then Gold Coast. Our fathers were born here and so we are Ghanaians and entitled to partake in local politics.� He encouraged his kinsmen to join the NPP because according to him, �it is clear that this is the party which has the interest of Ghanaians at heart.� The grouping which he said was formed a little over two months ago �has attracted so many of our brothers and sisters and we now we have branches in both the Ashanti and Eastern regions.� At the head of the Greater Accra Region branch is Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Ilerika, National Coordinator, Alfa Sule Bello and Treasurer, Salaam Yaro. The rest are National Women�s Organiser, Hajia Amina Umaru and Youth Organiser, Kifayat Abdul Wahab. The Ashanti Region branch is headed by Akeem Salewa, Chairman, Secretary, Shehu Lukman and in the Eastern Region, Alhaji Latif Bello. According to the secretary, they would mount a national campaign to educate other Yorubas born in the country about the importance of exercising their civic responsibilities and not to sit on the fence.